A bipartisan group of lawmakers announce the introduction of a bill in the House of Representatives on Tuesday to make gun trafficking a federal crime. / J. Scott Applewhite, AP

by Jackie Kucinich, USA TODAY

by Jackie Kucinich, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of House lawmakers reintroduced a bill Tuesday that would make trafficking in firearms a federal crime and strengthen the penalties for those who purchase guns for people prohibited from owning them.

Reps. Patrick Meehan, R-Penn., and Scott Rigell, R-Va., joined Democratic Reps. Carolyn Maloney of New York and Elijah Cummings of Maryland in co-sponsoring the bill - one of the few gun-related measures to start with support from members of both parties.

In addition to barring the trafficking of firearms, the bill would make the penalty for "straw purchases" - those intentionally made for prohibited individuals - up to 20 years in prison. It would enhance penalties for "organizers or managers of firearms trafficking networks" and recommends stricter punishments for the purchase of multiple illegal guns.

The bill would not burden law-abiding gun owners or buyers and would not hurt Second Amendment rights, the bill's sponsors said.

"This is one of those rare times that everyone agrees," Maloney said. "How often are you able to come forward with a bill that is going to protect people, that law enforcement wants and needs and prevent senseless gun violence, that doesn't in any way hurt gun owners rights to own legally their own guns? This is an absolute win, win, win, win."

Meehan, a former federal prosecutor, said the bill would give law enforcement the tools needed to "keep guns out of the hands of criminals."

Rigell said he planned to speak with Republican leadership soon in hopes of getting the bill closer to the House floor.

"I've spoken with several of my Republican colleagues, and there are some questions, but generally, they are very supportive," Rigell said. "The more someone understands the bill, I think the more they will support it."

Similar legislation was introduced in the Senate last week by Democratic Sen. Kristen Gillibrand of New York and Republican Mark Kirk of Illinois. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has also introduced a bill that would prohibit straw purchasing and implement tougher penalties on those who violate the law.

The trafficking bills are among dozens of gun-related pieces of legislation that have been introduced since the new Congress convened last month. Many seek to add regulations to gun ownership and are backed by the White House, which released its own plan last month.

The mass shooting of 20 young schoolchildren and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14 has given added momentum to gun-regulation advocates. Rigell did not place himself in that category.

"Charting the best course forward for this great republic is not an individual sport, it's a team sport," Rigell said. "For those who have deep concern about the overreach of the government, I'm in that group â?¦ but this bill doesn't do that.

"Unless you are a gun trafficker, unless you're a person who is a straw purchaser there's really no problem with this," Rigell said.